Drug smuggler’s operative injured in retaliatory firing by police

An operative of a foreign-based drug and weapon smuggler, identified as Soni Singh, was injured in a police encounter while being taken for the recovery of a weapon here on Saturday.

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He was arrested by Mehta police on June 25 for allegedly possessing 262 grams of heroin and a .32 bore pistol.

Sharing details, Superintendent of Police (Investigations) Aditya Warrior said that Soni Singh alias Sonu of Tanel village, falling under Mattewal police, was arrested by a patrolling party of the police near a gurudwara in Mehsampur village. During a search, the police recovered the contraband and weapon.

Investigations revealed that earlier on June 22, he along with his accomplice had fired outside a chemist’s shop in Mattewal area in an extortion bid. The victim had refused to give the extortion money. The complainant runs a medical store in Ramdiwali Musalmana village. He said on June 22, he was giving medicines to customers when two unknown persons came on a bike without a number plate and fired at the shop with the bullet hitting the walls. They then fled towards Bhoewal village.

SP Aditya Warrior said that during a probe, he disclosed about the weapon used in the crime which was hidden at a secluded place near Mattewal drain. He said a police team along with the accused reached the spot. He said as the accused took out the pistol from the spot, he fired two gunshots at the police team which retaliated the fire. Soni Singh suffered a bullet injury in the leg and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

He said Soni had three cases of theft against him and had recently come out of Gurdaspur jail.